Professional golf returns this weekend to the Lehigh Valley for the first time in four years. The PGA Tour Champions’ inaugural Jefferson Lehigh Classic is Friday through Sunday at Lehigh Country Club.
Many of the tour’s big names are in the field, including Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink and No. 3 Steven Alker. Zach Johnson, last week’s winner and No. 2 in the points race, is not participating. Neither is Padraig Harrington, who has won three of the last five U.S. Senior Opens (including 2022 at Saucon Valley Country Club).
Western Pennsylvania native Rocco Mediate, a six-time PGA Tour winner and trophy winner five times on the PGA Tour Champions, is in the field. Central Pennsylvania native Jason Bohn, who won twice on the PGA Tour and won a $1 million hole-in-one prize while at the University of Alabama, is the fifth alternate.
The Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic is one of three remaining regular-season events before the Charles Schwab Cup playoffs begin later in October.
Chris Thompson, Stephen Gangluff and David Branshaw were the Monday qualifiers at Moselem Springs Golf Club in Fleetwood.
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
PGA Tour Champions’ inaugural Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic
When: Friday through Sunday
Where: Lehigh Country Club (par 70; 6,760 yards)
Purse: $2.3 million
Winner’s share: $345,000
Field: There are 78 players who have a combined 238 PGA Tour Champions victories, including 35 senior major championship titles, and four members of the World Golf Hall of Fame (Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Colin Montgomerie and Vijay Singh)
Tickets: www.jeffersonclassic.com. Prices start at $15. Children 17 years old and younger receive free grounds access with a ticketed adult.
TV: Friday through Sunday on Golf Channel
Weather: Warm on Friday with a chance of showers and falling temperatures on Saturday and Sunday.
On-site daily activities: Food truck concessions (Wind Creek Tailgate Zone – located on the 19th hole featuring jumbo screen, Rita’s Ice truck, Yuengling adult beverages, Good Boy Vodka, Cellar Beast Winehouse, plus brand activations from sponsors including Wind Creek, Cadillac, Comcast,B. Braun & First Tee Lehigh Valley, and Berks Kids Zone; Fine Wine & Good Spirits Viewing Deck (located at No. 18 green); Patriots Outpost presented by J&M Fairbanks Family Foundation (No. 9 green), EY Sensory Center (No. 9 green)
Proceeds: Benefit charities in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the greater Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley regions, including primary beneficiaries Eagles Autism Foundation, Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation and Valley Youth House